Article
Plant Sciences
Tijana Ilic, Nevena Kuzmanovic, Snezana Vukojicic, Dmitar Lakusic
Summary: This study investigated the richness, spatial distribution, diversification, and spectra of montane coniferous forests in the central Balkan Peninsula. The results showed that these forests are species-rich and contain a high proportion of endemics. There are regional differences in species composition, with the primary centers of floristic richness located in the central and continental Dinarides.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Gabriel Martins Cruz, Ana Paula Justino Faria, Leandro Juen
Summary: This study assessed the drivers and distribution patterns of Trichoptera metacommunity in anthropogenically disturbed streams. The results showed that environment had a significant impact on the metacommunity, while the contribution of space was higher in disturbed sites. However, the distribution patterns differed between undisturbed and disturbed sites, possibly due to the increased heterogeneity and impact types in disturbed sites.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Tomasz Rewicz, Grzegorz Tonczyk, Lukasz Trebicki, Piotr Gadawski, Tomasz Mamos, Vladimir Pesic, Andrzej Zawal, Michal Grabowski
Summary: Lake Skadar and its surrounding areas are highly diverse freshwater ecosystems in the Mediterranean region and are crucial for biodiversity conservation in Europe. However, they are facing threats from climate change and rapid tourism development. This study provides the first comprehensive DNA barcode library for aquatic Heteroptera in the area and reveals potential taxonomic inconsistencies and cryptic diversity. It emphasizes the need for more research in understudied hotspots like Lake Skadar and highlights the value of DNA-barcoding-based surveys for biomonitoring and taxonomy.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Ruric O. Bowman, Robert F. Smith
Summary: Stream insects play a crucial role in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. This study focused on the vertical migration of adult stream insects into riparian forest canopies. The findings suggest that adult stream insects utilize canopy habitats, highlighting the importance of riparian forest conservation for stream insect populations.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Rainer Haas, Drini Imami, Iliriana Miftari, Prespa Ymeri, Klaus Grunert, Oliver Meixner
Summary: Domestic food markets are crucial for Kosovar and Albanian companies, with consumers in both countries perceiving domestic food as safer and higher quality than imported products. Female and educated consumers are more likely to use information related to food safety.
Article
Zoology
Joaquin Bueno-Soria, Albane Vilarino, Rafael Barba-Alvarez, Claudia Ballesteros-Barrera
Summary: Three new species of the genus Xiphocentron are described from northwestern Mexico, marking the first records of the family in this region. These new species have unique morphological features and are illustrated in detail, along with an updated distribution list.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Min Zhao, Cheng-Ye Wang, Long Sun, Zhao He, Pan-Li Yang, Huai-Jian Liao, Ying Feng
Summary: Edible aquatic insects have great potential as human food with unique characteristics, but their nutrition and food safety should be considered before consumption. Most aquatic edible insects are carnivorous animals, different from terrestrial insects in fat, fatty acid, amino acid, and mineral contents. It is not recommended to eat wild aquatic insects on a large scale, and standardized cultivation is preferred for those with high consumption.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Allan P. M. Santos, Daniela Maeda Takiya
Summary: This paper describes and illustrates three new species of Byrsopteryx from Peru, with distinct wing coloration and male genitalia characteristics. Byrsopteryx inti sp. nov. and Byrsopteryx mamaocllo sp. nov. share a unique feature on male forewings, while Byrsopteryx mancocapac sp. nov. has distinctive spine-like processes and divided posterior margin on sternum VIII. Larvae of the latter two species are similar to other known Byrsopteryx larvae, but can be differentiated by specific morphological characteristics. Phylogenetic analysis suggests close relationship between B. inti sp. nov. and B. mamaocllo sp. nov., despite a 14.9% minimum genetic divergence.
Article
Biology
Jacqueline Heckenhauer, Paul B. Frandsen, John S. Sproul, Zheng Li, Juraj Paule, Amanda M. Larracuente, Peter J. Maughan, Michael S. Barker, Julio Schneider, Russell J. Stewart, Steffen U. Pauls
Summary: The size of genomes in caddisflies varies greatly, and the expansion of repetitive elements, particularly transposable elements, is identified as a major driver of larger genome sizes. The association between transposable elements and genome size shows a linear relationship. Moreover, expanded genomes are more likely to occur in caddisfly lineages with higher ecological diversity.
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Gregory A. Lewbart, Trevor T. Zachariah
Summary: Invertebrates, which comprise the majority of the animal kingdom, are a diverse group of animals found in various habitats. However, our understanding of their welfare and care is relatively limited compared to vertebrates. This review focuses on seven economically important and widely recognized invertebrate taxa and discusses their welfare, as well as other topics such as anatomy, physiology, husbandry, natural history, and environmental diseases.
Article
Fisheries
Apostolos Apostolou, Luchezar Pehlivanov, Michael Schabuss, Horst Zornig, Georg Wolfram
Summary: This study proposes a more suitable categorization of lotic and lentic freshwater ecosystems in Bulgaria based on extensive fish sampling. Referent-type communities have been determined for 33 recognized water bodies. The adapted zonation of Illies provides a rough estimation of fish distribution in the country, with sensitive and/or endemic species generally limited in their distribution and abundance.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Jerry Arana Maestre, Carlos Carrasco Badajoz, Pastor Coayla Penaloza, Carolina Rayme Chalco, Marco Sanchez Pena
Summary: Peru, a megadiverse country, displays a great diversity of ecosystems due to its tropical location, marine currents, and complex relief. Arid and semi-arid ecosystems cover a significant portion of the Peruvian territory and are home to a variety of aquatic macroinvertebrates. Research on aquatic macroinvertebrates in Peru has increased in recent years, focusing on bioindication, biodiversity, taxonomy, and distribution, with rivers being the most intensively studied ecosystems. Further studies are recommended to explore the taxonomic and ecological aspects of macroinvertebrates, especially in the eastern slope, and to calibrate biotic indices for main hydrographic basins.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Ilias Strachinis, Nikos Poulakakis, Nikoleta Karaiskou, Politis Patronidis, Ioannis Patramanis, Dimitris Poursanidis, Daniel Jablonski, Alexandros Triantafyllidis
Summary: This study explored the phylogeographic relationships within the genus Algyroides in the south-western Balkans, identifying three major clades and discussing the encounter of two major clades of A. nigropunctatus in western Greece. It also raised questions about the validity of Dinarolacerta as a genus due to its clustering within the genus Algyroides.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anastasia Karioti, Jelena Kukic-Markovic, Anna Rita Bilia, Marjan Niketic, Silvana Petrovic
Summary: The aim of this study was to chemically analyze six Stachys taxa from the Balkan Peninsula. The phenolic composition of the plant extracts was analyzed using HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS. The results revealed that there were differences in the phenolic composition among the different taxa, but they all contained phenolic acids, phenylethanol glycosides, and flavonoids.
BIOCHEMICAL SYSTEMATICS AND ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Albena Lapeva-Gjonova, Sandor Csosz, Ferenc Bathori
Summary: Ant nests provide ideal living conditions for many organisms, including parasitic fungi. However, little is known about the ectoparasitic fungus Rickia lenoirii on harvester ants. This study reports the first occurrence of R. lenoirii in the Balkans, as well as other ant hosts and fungi.
Article
Entomology
Halil Ibrahimi, Iva Mihoci, Vlatka Micetic Stankovic, Dragan Bukovec, Mladen Kucinic
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
(2016)
Article
Entomology
Halil Ibrahimi, Emsale Jahiji, Astrit Bilalli
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
(2017)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Halil Ibrahimi, Astrit Bilalli, Simon Vitecek, Steffen U. Pauls, Felicitas Erzinger, Agim Gashi, Linda Grapci Kotori, Donard Geci, Milaim Musliu, Edison Kasumaj
Summary: The Western Balkans are a significant hotspot of caddisfly diversity in Europe, with many microscale endemics recently discovered. The new species Potamophylax coronavirus sp. n. from Bjeshket e Nemuna National Park in Kosovo belongs to the Potamophylax winneguthi species group, exhibiting distinct morphological characteristics and likely being a microendemic of the area, emphasizing its importance in caddisfly biodiversity in Europe.
BIODIVERSITY DATA JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Maria Valladolid, Mercedes Arauzo, Mikhail Chertoprud, Pavel Chvojka, Stanislaw Czachorowski, Beatriz A. Dorda, Jelena Hinic, Halil Ibrahimi, Ioannis Karaouzas, Vladimir Krpac, Mladen Kucinic, Omar Lodovici, Juha Salokannel, Valentina Slavevska Stamenkovic, Katarina Stojanovic, Ian Wallace, Isabel Rey
Summary: The presence and distribution of Rhyacophila fasciata in Europe were revised, along with an assessment of formerly synonymized species. Morphological features and genetic evidence revealed differences between R. septentrionis and R. fasciata, leading to a proposal to change its status. New descriptions of different stages, molecular analysis, and ecological notes were also included in the study.
Article
Entomology
Halil Ibrahimi, Habibollah Mohammadi, Edris Ghaderi, Erfan Karimian
Summary: In this paper, a new species of caddisfly, Hydropsyche kurdistanica, is described from the Zagros Mountains in Kurdistan Province in Iran. The new species shares similarities with other species but can be distinguished by specific characteristics. This discovery adds to the knowledge of the caddisfly fauna in the region.
Article
Zoology
Maria Valladolid, Ioannis Karaouzas, Halil Ibrahimi, Mercedes Arauzo, Valentina Slavevska Stamenkovic, Beatriz A. Dorda, Jelena Hinic, Astrit Bilalli, Milaim Musliu, Isabel Rey
Summary: Morphology of different postembryonic stages of Rhyacophila macedonica from Greece, Republic of North Macedonia, Kosovo and Serbia was examined, along with molecular analysis. The study revealed morphological and genetic differences between R. macedonica and the nominate species Rhyacophila fasciata, leading to the proposal of R. macedonica as a new species and the elevation of R. f. delici to the status of a distinct species.
Article
Zoology
Halil Ibrahimi, Astrit Bilalli, Mladen Kucinic, Dora Hlebec, Agim Gashi, Linda Grapci Kotori, Katarina Stojanovic, Ivana Zivic
Summary: In this paper, a new species, Potamophylax idliri sp. nov., is described from the Jastrebac Mountains in Serbia. The new species is morphologically similar to Potamophylax coronavirus and Potamophylax juliani. The males of the new species differ from all known species of the Potamophylax winneguthi Species Group by morphological characters of the male genitalia. The genetic distinctiveness between Potamophylax idliri sp. nov. and other species of the Potamophylax winneguthi Species Group is similar to that of other morphologically recognized species in the group.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Halil Ibrahimi, Astrit Bilalli, Agim Gashi, Linda Grapci Kotori, Valentina Slavevska Stamenkovic, Donard Geci
Summary: The Sharr Mountains in Kosovo are an important hotspot for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity, with many endemic and rare species. A new species, Potamophylax humoinsapiens sp. n., was described in this study, which is morphologically similar to Potamophylax idliri and Potamophylax juliani. The new species can be distinguished from other known species by the shape of its male genitalia. It is likely a microendemic species of the Sharr Mountains.
BIODIVERSITY DATA JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Edris Ghaderi, Halil Ibrahimi, Habibollah Mohammadi, Armin Namayandeh
Summary: In this study, a new species of Orthocladiinae, Paracricotopus davoodi sp. nov., is described and 8 new faunistic records from Iran are reported, expanding their distribution within the Palearctic realm. In addition to describing the new species, a key for identifying adult males and immatures of the genus Paracricotopus Brundin, 1956 is also provided. This study contributes to the ongoing investigation of Chironomidae biodiversity in western Iran, aiming to document new faunistic records and taxa in the freshwaters of the Zagros Mountains. The Shalmash Falls, the freshwater studied, is a natural wonder of western Iran with ecotourism importance.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Linda Grapci-Kotori, Bekim Ibrahim, Astrit Bilalli, Halil Ibrahimi, Milaim Musliu
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
(2019)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Milaim Musliu, Astrit Bilalli, Bujar Durmishi, Murtezan Ismaili, Halil Ibrahimi
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
(2018)
Article
Entomology
Halil Ibrahimi, Linda Grapci-Kotori, Mladen Kucinic, Valentina Slavevska Stamenkovic, Biljana Rimcheska, Astrit Bilalli
JOURNAL OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH SOCIETY
(2018)
Article
Entomology
Halil Ibrahimi, Valmir Vehapi
JOURNAL OF THE KANSAS ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
(2017)
